explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Talk:1056: Felidae

2013-02-16T06:13:17Z

Kdesltd:

I'm pretty sure there's the saber-toothed tiger in the smilodon category too. That's gonna be ''faaar'' to the right. [[User:Davidy22|Davidy22]][[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>[talk]</tt>]] 10:05, 23 December 2012 (UTC)

If I'm not mistaken, Dracorex hogwartsia was specifically named for Hogwarts, so the name isn't disturbingly similar.[[User:Kdesltd|Kdesltd]] ([[User talk:Kdesltd|talk]]) 06:13, 16 February 2013 (UTC)

722: Computer Problems

2013-01-07T04:15:40Z

Kdesltd: Created the page.

{{comic
| number = 722
| date =
| title = Computer Problems
| image = Computer_problems.png
| titletext = This is how I explain computer problems to my cat. My cat usually seems happier than me.
}}

==Explanation==
In this strip, [[Cueball]] explains to [[Megan]] that he is having computer problems. Normally, he is able to manipulate a "pattern" on his "metal rectangle full of little lights" (a reasonable, if oversimplified description of generated images displayed on a monitor). Today, however, the "pattern" is "all wrong". Megan suggests that he might be able to fix it by pressing more buttons, but following her advice doesn't seem to have the desired effect.

According to the title text, Randall uses a similar technique to explain his computer problems to his cat.

==Transcript==
:[A man and a woman are looking at his computer, on the desk.]
:Man: You know this metal rectangle full of little lights?
:Woman: Yeah.

:Man: I spend most of my life pressing buttons to make the pattern of lights change however i want.
:Woman: Sounds good.

:Man: But today, the pattern of lights is ALL WRONG!
:Woman: Oh god! Try pressing more buttons!
:Man: IT'S NOT HELPING!

{{comic discussion}}

727: Trade Expert

2013-01-07T04:03:43Z

Kdesltd: Created the page.

{{comic
| number = 727
| date =
| title = Trade Expert
| image = Trade_expert.png
| titletext = I mean, it's been almost twenty years. Now, it's possible you're simply embedding Windows directory paths in your URIs, but in that case you need more than just a short lecture.
}}

==Explanation==
The {{w|Slash (punctuation)|forward slash}} (/) is the correct way to separate distinct parts of a web address (for example, the web address 'en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slash_(punctuation)'). Similarly, the slash serves as a separator in file paths on UNIX-like operating systems. Often, the part of the web address after the first slash ('wiki/Slash_(punctuation)' in the previous example) will correspond to a file with the same path on a web server (the previous example could have the path '/var/www/en/wiki/Slash_(punctuation)').

As referenced in the title text, the {{w|Backslash|backslash}} serves as a separator in file paths on the Windows operating system. Thus a windows file path encoded in a URI would contain the backslash character. It is worth noting, however, that if a URI contains a windows path, that URI would probably only be accessible from the machine that locally stores the file. Sharing such a URI on a news show would be useless, as nobody would be able to access the file.

==Transcript==
:[Anchorman sitting at newsdesk.]
:Anchor: (to camera) And for more on the summit, we turn to trade expert Dr. Steven Berlee. Steven?

:[Dr. Steven Berlee is sitting to the right of Anchor at newsdesk.]
:DSB: I'm not actually a doctor or a trade expert. I'm just a programmer who lies to get on news shows.

:[Close-up on DSB.]
:Anchor: (off camera) What? Why?
:DSB: To share a message with newscasters.

:[Pull back to shot of both men.]
:Anchor: Which is?
:DSB: Every time you say "backslash" as part of a web address on air, I die a little.

{{comic discussion}}

321: Thighs

2012-11-30T00:45:24Z

Kdesltd: Created page with "{{comic | number = 321 | date = | title = Thighs | image = Thighs.png | imagesize = | titletext = My thighs have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord? }}..."

{{comic
| number = 321
| date =
| title = Thighs
| image = Thighs.png
| imagesize =
| titletext = My thighs have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord?
}}

==Explanation==
In each panel, Cueball sings a line from a different song (Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger", Dean Martin's "That's Amore", and Van Morrison's "Brown Eyed Girl"), replacing the word "eye" in each with the word "thigh".

The title text is a reference to the first line of the Battle Hymn of the Republic.

==Transcript==
:[Guy singing, Girl at computer]
:Guy: It's the thigh of the tiger
:Guy: When the moon hits your thigh like a big pizza pie, that's amore.
:Guy: She's my brown-thighed girl.
:Girl: Don't you have a job or something?
:Girl: Also, Eww.

{{comic discussion}}

651: Bag Check

2012-11-30T00:26:30Z

Kdesltd:

{{comic
| number = 651
| date =
| title = Bag Check
| image = Bag_check.png
| imagesize = 345x768
| titletext = A laptop battery contains roughly the stored energy of a hand grenade, and if shorted it ... hey! You can't arrest me if I prove your rules inconsistent!
}}

==Explanation==
In this comic, Cueball argues with a TSA agent at an airport security checkpoint over the TSA policy of prohibiting airline passengers from bringing liquids or gels in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces (100 ml) in their carry on items. To prove his point, Cueball points out that modifying the lithium ion battery in his laptop computer to be an explosive poses a more plausible risk to the aircraft than carrying an innocuous bottle of water.

==Transcript==
:[A man and woman are at a security checkpoint in an airport. A guard is holding an open backpack and a bottle of water, and the man is arguing with him.]
:Man: But if you're worried about bombs, why are you letting me keep my laptop batteries? If I overvolted them and breached the cells, it would make a sizeable explosion.
:Woman: Oh god.
:Man: It's okay, dear. In a moment he'll realize I have a good point and return my water.

{{comic discussion}}